Power-operated hatch covers



Nov. 30, 1965 H. KUMMERMAN POWER-OPERATED HATCH COVERS Filed Nov. 16, 1962 INVENTOR HENRI KUMMEFPMAN HT3ZZ7 United States Patent 3,220,466 POWER-OPERATED HATCH COVERS Henri Kummerrnan, Paris, France, assignor to Mac- Gregor-Comarain, Paris (Seine), France, a corporation of France Filed Nov. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 238,258

Claims priority, application France, Nov. 20, 1961,

879,477 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) The present invention relates in general to means for operatively interconnecting two panels or like elements and has specific reference to improved servo-action coupling devices for operatively interconnecting two closing panels or like adjacent elements adapted to be folded on each other in either direction, and also to closing panels or panel sections equipped with devices of this character.

Movable or operatively interconnecting devices are already known which permit a complete relative rotation of the hingedly interconnected panels or like elements and consist of a pair of independent, crossed links substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said panels or like elements, and pivoted thereon by their ends. This coupling system affords theoretically a 360 movement of one panel in relation to the other in either direction of rotation.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a coupling device of this general type which can be controlled directly and separately for opening said panels partially or completely at will. This device is remarkable notably in that it comprises mechanical control means solid with one of said links (the power link) and separate drive means mounted on at least one of said panels, coupled to said mechanical control means, and adapted rotatably to drive said link about one of its pivot pins constituting the pivotal mounting connection between said link and said panels.

According to another feature characterizing this invention the aforesaid mechanical control means consist of a crank arm or like member substantially parallel to said plane of movement and having one end rigid with said power link through the medium of an operative connection preferably coaxial with the controlled pivot pin of said link, the opposite end of said arm being operatively connected to said drive means.

According to a further feature of this invention said drive means consist of at least one fluid-actuated cylinder or like device, preferably of the hydraulic type, which has one end pivoted on one of said panels and the opposite end pivoted on said crank arm.

This invention is also concerned with closing panels or like members equipped with the servo-action coupling device broadly described hereinabove and which are intended for covering for example horizontal apertures of spaces such as shipholds or other receptacles in buildings or rolling vehicles. Thus, notably, panels of this character may be of the type widely known in shipbuilding as Folding Panels and consist for example of two panel elements or sections pivotally interconnected by means of devices of the type set forth hereinabove, one element or section being pivoted on one of the end edges of the aforesaid aperture and the other provided at its free end with side rollers adapted to bear and roll on the parallel opposite side edges of said aperture, said elements being adapted to be folded vertically against each other in wallet fashion by lifting their adjacent, hingedly interconnected edges, said other element being adapted to be folded separately upwards, preferably at right angles to the adjacent closed element. This panel construction according to the present invention is remarkable notably in that when a fluid-tight joint is contemplated between the "ice panel elements it comprises a device of the type set forth hereinabove on each side, the two corresponding fluidactuated cylinders being fed in parallel.

The advantages arising from the present invention are readily apparent. In fact, a partial opening of the aperture covered by the panel can be effected by folding the panel until the desired clearance has been obtained, for example by stopping the opening movement when said rollers attain the position previously occupied by said hingedly interconnected edges of the panel elements; however, this operation cannot be performed unless the two panel sections are completely free of any goods or other load. It will be seen that with the device of this invention the aperture can be opened partially by raising to a vertical position the aforesaid folding element, provided only that this folding element is free of any goods or load, the goods or load carried by the other element being left thereon, so that a considerable increase in the flexibility of operation can be achieved, notably on board ships equipped with panels of this character. Moreover, as the power link of each coupling device is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder, the panel opening and closing movements can be controlled by simply depressing a control knob at a central control station.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical embodiment of the servo-action coupling device of this invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an arrangement wherein the coupling links are disposed like the diagonals of a trapezium, the panel elements being in their hatchway full closing position;

FIGURE 2 shows diagrammatically the trapezium diagonal configuration of the coupling links of the arrangement of FIGURE 1 in partially opened position of the hatch panel, obtained by raising one of the panel sections to its vertical position;

FIGURE 3 illustrates diagrammatically the trapezium diagonal disposal of the coupling links of the arrangement of FIGURE 1 in the fully open position of the panel as a consequence of the vertical wallet-like folding of the two sections or elements thereof.

The form of embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing pertains to the type generally known as Folding Panel in shipbuilding. It comprises two panel elements or sections 1, 2 hingedly interconnected by means of one or more coupling devices 3 according to this invention. The left-hand panel 1 as shown in the figure is pivotally mounted at 4 on a transverse end edge or headledge of the hatchway. The other panel 2 has its free end equipped with a pair of lateral rollers 5 adapted to bear and roll on the parallel longitudinal opposite edges or coamings of the hatchway.

The coupling device 3 consists of a pair of separate links 6, 7 having their ends so pivoted on the panel sections 1, 2 that they provide a cross coupling therebetween. The reference letters A and B designating respectively the pivot pins thereof which lie on section 1, whereas the reference letters C and D designate the pivot pins of these links which lie on the other section 2. Link 7 constitutes a simple connecting and guiding member, and link 6 acts as a power link due to the provision of a crank arm 8 extending laterally from the link 6 and rigid therewith.

A servo-action motor or drive unit 9, consisting preferably of a hydraulic cylinder, although a pneumatic, electric or mechanical power unit may also be used for this purpose, is carried by the panel section 1. This cylinder has one end, for example its bottom end, pivotally mounted at F on section 1, and its opposite end, consist ing in this example of the outer end of its piston rod 9a, pivotally connected at E on the free end of crank arm 8. Preferably, a double-acting cylinder will be used to this end.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the panel in the fully closed position. The mode of operation of this panel is particularly clear. To uncover the hatchway portion closed by the panel section 2 the operator simply lifts this section 2. To this end, he actuates the cylinder 9 to rotate the crank arm 8 of power link 6 until the piston rod of the cylinder completes its outward stroke. Thus, the pivot pins B and D move toward each other, and pivot pins A and C move away from each other.

To uncover completely the hatchway closed by the panel sections 1 and 2 the operator folds these sections vertically in wallet fashion. In this case the piston rod 9a of cylinder 9 is actuated as shown in FIGURE 3 soas to pull the crank arm 8, thus causing the two sections to move toward each other while lifting their adjacent, hingedly interconnected edges. The pivot pins B and D move away from each other and points A and C move toward each other, since section 1 is pivoted on a fixed horizontal pin at 4 and section 2 bears with its rollers 5 on the hatchway coaming.

It is desirable to secure the following three panel positions:

Fully closed position, with sections 1 and 2 in the horizontal position and in coplanar alignment (FIG- URE 1);

Partially open position, with section 1 horizontal and section 2 raised to the vertical (FIGURE 2);

Fully open position, with section 1 and 2 folded in wallet fashion to a vertical position (FIGURE 3).

In this case the total angular amplitude of rotation is 90 +180:270.

To avoid any risk of overstepping the vertical position of section 2 (FIGURE 2), a limit stop may be provided on cylinder 9 in order to limit the outward stroke of its piston rod to the proper, predetermined value; on the other hand, the position of FIGURE 3 cannot be overstepped since sections 1 and 2 practically contact each other.

In the case of FIGURE 1-3, it is possible to prevent the assembly from attaining alignments of point B with points F and B in any dead point position by simply maintaining the maximum angle of absolute rotation of section 2 below 180 so that the center-lineof segment BE of lever arm 8 always remains on a same halfplane side defined by the straight line FB without ever merging into or overstepping the latter, the useful stroke of the actuator piston being correspondingly limited. In the preferred case wherein the upward opening movement of section 2 is limited to 90, the pivot pins A, B, C, D of the links are advantageously disposed at the corners of an isosceles trapezium in the fully closed position shown in FIGURE 1, the line B-D constituting the minor base of the trapezium. If the angles at the major base of trapezium liken 0T1 are equal to 6730, an obtuse angle on is formed by the links 6, 7 in FIGURE 2 and by the links 6, 7 in FIG- URE 3.

As points A and B on the one hand, and C and D on the other hand, lie in the thickness or height of the panel sections, the orthogonal projection of the distance a=ZF=FF on a plane parallel to the section height and at right angles thereto must be inferior to the thickness or height of said sections.

The orthogonal projection on said plane of the length d=ZT=B G between the pivot pins of links 6 and 7 must be greater than the thickness or height of the panel sections to permit the position of FIGURE 3.

Similarly, the distance measured from the pivot pins to the upper or outer and lower or inner faces respectively of said panel sections must be at the most equal or lower than half the difierence between the values of the aforesaid two orthogonal projections.

In. the example set forth hereinabove the trapezium is isosceles, that is, AB=CD and AD=BC, in order to permit the maximum relative movements of the panel sections. This condition is obviously advantageous but not compulsory.

When a fluid-tight joint is desired between sections 1 and 2 in the fully closed panel position of FIGURE 1, the links 6, 7 cannot move through the sealing devices; thus they must be disposed on the lateral sides of the panel section 1 and 2, externally of the sealing devices. Therefore, the panel Will comprise a coupling device on each lateral side and the two corresponding cylinders are fed in parallel.

The angular values indicated hereinabove correspond to a upward or lifting movement of panel section 2, but if desired this angle may be increased considerably, leaving the type of actuator used aside, since an angular reserve is available.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A controllable coupling device for operatively interconnecting and moving at least two adjacent closure patnels adapted to be folded against each other and to be unfolded so as to lie substantially in extension of one another, and comprising at least one linkage mechanism allowing up to approximately 270 reciprocal rotation of at least one panel with respect to the other and consisting of two links substantially independent of each other to be movable in separate planes respectively parallel to the plane of motion of said panels and pivoted each one to both panels by their opposite ends respectively at points appearing located in projection substantially at the diagonally apposed apexes of a quadrilateral at least in the unfolded position of said panels wherein said links are arranged cross-wise, actuating means integnal with one of said links called the driving link, and individual reversible motive power means carried by at least one of said panels and operatively connected to said actuating means for controlled rotation of said driving link about one of its pivots on said panels.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the orthogonal projection, on a plane parallel to the thickness of one of said panels and perpendicular to the latter, of the distance between the axes of the two pivots of said links on said panel, is less than said thickness.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said links have the same length between their pivot axes respectively and the orthogonal projection of said equal lengths on said plane is greater than the said thickness whereas the respective distances of the pivot taxes of said links, on a same panel, to the nearest face of said panel does not exceed half the diiference between said orthogonal projection of said length and the orthogonal projection of said distance.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of crossed links forms the diagonals of an isosceles trapezium of which the vertices are coincident With the pivot axes of said links and the acute angles adjacent the major base thereof are substantially equal to 6730 in the closed aligned position of said panels.

5. Closure panels for covering a substantially horizontal hatch and like aperture in ships, buildings and rolling vehicles consisting of at least one cover panel composed of two hingedly interconnected panel sections having each one a top face and a bottom face and having adjacent inner end edges and outer end edges respectively, one of which is pivoted by its outer end edge to a transverse end edge of said hatch whereas the other is provided at its free outer end with at least one pair of side wheels for bearing on and rolling along two parallel opposite edges of said hatch, so that said panel sections are adapted to be folded substantially vertically with their bottom faces lying against each other in the hatch full opening position by lifting their common hinged connection upwards and to be unfolded so as to lie substantially in flat extension of one another in the hatch full closing position and said other panel section may be folded back upwards at least at right angles to the adjacent panel section remaining in the horizontal closing position, said hinged connections consisting of at least one controllable linkage mechanism allowing approximately 270 reciprocal rotation of said other panel section relatively to the adjacent one and comprising two links substantially independent of each other to be movable in separate planes respectively parallel to the plane of motion of said panel sections and pivoted each one to both panel sections by their opposite ends respectively at points appearing located in projection substantially at the diagonally opposed apexes of a quadrangle at least in the unfolded position of said panel sections wherein said links are arranged crosswise, one of said links called the driving link being formed by one arm of a crank lever, at least one jacking ram pivoted to one of said panel sections and having an actuating rod pivoted to the other arm of said crank lever, which other arm is bent substantially downwards to such an angle with respect to said one arm and the useful stroke of said ram being so limited, that a first straight line segment joining the driving link pivot point on said ram carrying panel section to the pivot joint point connecting the end of said other arm to said ram is always located on a same half-plane side defined by a second straight line joining the ram pivot point and the driving link pivot point on said ram carrying panel section, whereby the total angular amplitude of absolute rotation of one panel section is limited to somewhat below 180", and its relative rotation with respect to the other panel section is limited to somewhat below 270, and stop means on said jacking ram for said actuating rod to limit to at least the relative angular amplitude of outward rotation in the hatch opening direction of said other panel section when the adjacent one remains in its closing position.

6. A hatch cover panel construction according to claim 5 wherein said quadrangle is an isosceles trapezium of which the acute angles adjacent the major base thereof are substantially equal to 6730 in the closed aligned position of said panel sections.

7. A hatch cover panel construction according to claim 5, comprising two said linkage mechanisms provided on each one of the two opposite free sides of said panel respectively and actuated each one by an individual jacking ram, both jacking rams being energized in parallel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,855,038 10/1958 Greer l88 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,591 12/1933 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDETT, Examiner. 

1. A CONTROLLABLE COUPLING DEVICE FOR OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING AND MOVING AT LEAST TWO ADJACENT CLOSURE PANELS ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND TO BE UNFOLDED SO AS TO LIE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXTENSION OF ONE ANOTHER, AND COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE LINKAGE MECHANISM ALLOWING UP TO APPROXIMATELY 270* RECIPROCAL ROTATION OF AT LEAST ONE PANEL WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER AND CONSISTIN OF TWO LINKS SUBSTANTIALLY INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER TO BE MOVABLE IN SEPARATE PLANES RESPECTIVELY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF MOTION OF SAID PLANES AND PIVOTED EACH ONE TO BOTH PANELS BY THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS RESPECTIVELY AT POINTS APPEARING LOCATED IN PROJECTION SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE DIAGONALLY APPOSED APEXES OF A QUADRILATERAL AT LEAST IN THE UNFOLDED POSITION OF SAID PANELS WHEREIN SAID LINKS ARE ARRANGED CROSS-WISE, 